Alleghenies May 2026

: The region's rich deposits of bituminous coal, timber, and iron fueled the Industrial Revolution, though this legacy includes significant environmental impacts from practices like mountaintop removal.

The range is defined by its dramatic topography and unique ecosystems:

The Alleghenies are a hub for hiking and cycling, often utilizing abandoned railroad corridors that once breached the mountain barrier: alleghenies

: Areas like Dolly Sods Wilderness feature high-altitude-esque plateaus with stunted trees, heath, and sphagnum bogs typically found in much more northerly latitudes.

: The range has been home to humans for thousands of years, from the indigenous Monongahela and Shawnee to the Scotch-Irish and German immigrants who braved the "western waters" in the 1700s. Expand map Industrial History Scenic Peaks & Wilds Rivers & Trails Pennsylvania Turnpike Abandoned Tunnels : The region's rich deposits of bituminous coal,

: A sharp, massive escarpment that serves as the Eastern Continental Divide , separating the Mississippi River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds.

: A flat, well-maintained trail between Ohiopyle and Confluence that follows beautiful rapids and connects to the broader Allegheny Highlands Trail . Expand map Industrial History Scenic Peaks & Wilds

: An 17.6-mile trek through history featuring two dark, damp, and abandoned tunnels (Sideling Hill and Ray's Hill) left behind when the highway was rerouted.